Nervous about starting this semester? Worried about your class schedule, living away from home, or where to even start? Maybe you’re a family or supporter looking for more information on resources at MSU?
In partnership with MSU’s Impact 89FM radio station, Spartan Orientation Station, hosted by current MSU students, features various campus partners discussing their services and support and are designed to highlight key resources and important topics at Michigan State University. Throughout the summer, students, families, and supporters will have access to these pre-recorded podcasts.
Recently released episodes are sent to students, families, and supporters via the bi-weekly NSO newsletters, as well as posted on NSO’s social media pages. All episodes will be released at 12 p.m. EST.
For full transcripts of our episodes, and a full playlist of episodes, visit our page on the Impact 89FM website.
College is full of new experiences, including learning how to manage your money. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Amanda Guinot Talbot and Dr. Erica Tobe from MSU’s Department of Human Development and Family Studies, along with Ryan LaBarge, a financial education specialist at MSUFCU. They discuss what Go for the Green is, financial aid resources available to students, how to develop a budget and tips for managing money in college.
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week’s episode of our Living Community series, we are featuring James Madison College, also called JMC. JMC is a residential college at Michigan State focused on creating an inclusive learning community that empowers students to pursue equity and justice through public service and civic engagement. Today we are welcoming Jahshua to discuss all things James Madison. Thank you so much for joining us today!
For more information on James Madison, visit their website jmc.msu.edu or follow them on Instagram @jmcmsu.
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week’s episode, we will be discussing the MOSAIC Center for Education and Outreach!
For more information about the MOSAIC Center, visit their office on the second floor of the MSU Union. For connections on social media, students can find the Campus Interfaith Council @msu_cic and Women*s Student Services @womensstudentservicesmsu on Instagram!
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week’s episode of our Living Community series, we are featuring the Arts Living Learning Community. The Arts LLC focuses on socially engaged art and emphasizes belonging and community for its students.
For more information about the Arts LLC, visit their website at artsliving.msu.edu or follow them on Instagram @allc_msu.
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week’s episode, we will be discussing Undergraduate Research at MSU! Undergraduate research is conducted in all sorts of different forms and disciplines, and the UR team is here to help you find the best opportunity for you! Today, we welcome Dr. Brian Keas and Brittany Guercio Finch from the Office of Undergraduate Research to the podcast!
For more information about Undergraduate Research, visit their website at urca.msu.edu or follow them on Instagram @ur_at_msu.
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On today’s edition of the Spartan Orientation Station’s Living Community series, we are speaking with the Honors College! The Honors College at MSU is home to high-achieving scholars dedicated to academic excellence and personal growth. Joining us today are Melanie and Noah who are here to chat about all things Honors! Thanks for joining us!
For more information about the Honors College, visit their website honors.msu.edu or follow them on Instagram @msuhonors.
In this edition of Family Fridays, we explore the emotional and practical adjustments that both students and families/supporters often experience as college begins. Joined by Dr. Olivia Scott from MSU’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS), we discuss common challenges, how to recognize signs a student might be struggling, and the range of support resources available on campus, including CAPS, peer networks, and Spartan Family Connections. Whether you're preparing for a long-distance transition or simply adjusting to a new dynamic at home, this episode offers helpful tips, reflection, and reassurance for the journey ahead.
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week’s episode of campus and community resources, we are discussing first generation college students and the resources available to them!
Today we are welcoming Sarah and Marlene with First Generation Student Success. For more information about First Generation resources on campus, visit their webpage at firstgen.msu.edu or follow them on Instagram @msufli_1stgen.
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week’s episode of our Living Community series, we are featuring Lyman Briggs College! Lyman Briggs, often called “Briggs” or LBC, is a science living learning community on campus. LBC was founded in 1967 to bridge the cultures of the sciences and the humanities and social sciences.
Today we are welcoming Jacki and Makena from Lyman Briggs to discuss all things LBC. Thank you so much for joining us today! We are so excited to discuss Lyman Briggs College! For more information on Lyman Briggs, visit their website at lbc.msu.edu or follow them on Instagram @lymanbriggscollege.
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On Thursdays throughout the summer, SOS will feature a Campus and Community Resources series, where students can hear from experts about important departments and programs!
On this week’s episode, the orientation team discusses all things Experiential Learning. For more information about the Office for Experiential Learning, visit their website or send them an email at ssc@msu.edu.
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On Tuesdays throughout the summer, SOS will feature a Living Community series, which highlights the different residential programs/communities that students can live in at MSU!
This week, we are discussing La Casa, which is a Living Learning Community for Spanish learners at Michigan State. La Casa is reopening in Fall 2025 and is located in Shaw Hall. For more information on La Casa, find them on Instagram @lacasamsu or visit their website to learn more!
Hello families and supporters! Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station’s Family Fridays series. In this episode, Raven and Laurin chat with the Assistant Director of Spartan Experiences, Lance Sharp, about the ways students can get and stay involved at MSU. Listen to learn more about family and student engagement, registered student organizations (RSOS), campus resources, tips for getting involved at MSU and in the greater Lansing, and student perspectives. Go Green!
On our final episode of the Spartan Orientation Station for the summer, join some of our very own student staff as they discuss their other positions as Resident Assistants, Assistant Community Directors, and Intercultural Aides working with Live On, MSU’s Housing team!
For more information about Live On, visit their website at liveon.msu.edu.
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! This week, we are sitting down with Dr. Olivia Scott, Acting Assistant Director of Multicultural Initiatives and Community Engagement at MSU’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services, to discuss all things self care, community care, and mental wellbeing!
For more information about CAPS, visit their website at caps.msu.edu or follow them on Instagram @healthyspartans.
Hello families and supporters! Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station’s Family Fridays series. In this episode, Raven and Laurin chat with the Director of the Transfer Student Success Center (TSSC), Dr. Charles Jackson, about the different ways transfer students and other students think about student success. Listen to learn more about defining student success, tips for academic success and beyond the classroom, and student narratives regarding their own success at Michigan State. Go Green!
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week’s episode, we are speaking with the Broad Art Museum on campus. Located at 547 E Circle Drive, right across from the Student Services Building, the art museum features a variety of fun exhibits and learning opportunities.
For more information about Broad Art Museum, visit their website at broadmuseum.msu.edu or find them on Instagram @msubroad.
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On thi week’s episode, we will be discussing the MSU Libraries! The Library aims to provide expertise, collections, and infrastructure for discovery and creation through their work with MSU students, faculty, and staff.
For more information about the Libraries on MSU’s campus, or any of the amazing services the Library provides students with, visit their website at lib.msu.edu or find them on Instagram @msulibraries.
On this week’s episode of the Spartan Orientation Station, our student staff answer your questions about Michigan State University! We know the transition to MSU can be tricky, so we want to share our tips and tricks for academic success, time management, and more!
On this week’s episode of the Spartan Orientation Station, we are learning about the Transfer Experience Mentorship Program (TEMPO). TEMPO provides opportunities for new transfer students to be paired with a more experienced mentor to learn about MSU.
For more information about the transfer student experience, follow the Transfer Student Success Center on Instagram @msutransfersuccess or email the TSSC team at transfersuccess@msu.edu.
Hello families and supporters! Welcome to the Spartan Orientation Station’s Family Fridays series! Co-hosted by Raven Baugh, the NSO Program Coordinator for families and supporters, and Laurin Gierman, the Director of Spartan Family Connections, this monthly summer series will feature tips, resources, and perspectives about the college transition for families and supporters of incoming college students. On this week’s episode, we discuss the new dynamic and relationship involving families, supporters, and students due to the college transition process.
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week’s episode, we will be discussing the Residence Hall Association (or RHA). RHA is Michigan State’s on-campus student government, representing the students who live on-campus. Joining us today is RHA President, Erin Caldwell.
For more information, find RHA on Instagram @msurha or visit their website rha.msu.edu.
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week’s episode, we speak with the Writing Center on campus. The Writing Center offers students, faculty, staff, and the community different support opportunities that covers an array of different writing fields and disciplines. Speaking about the Writing Center today is Melina, the Writing Center’s Community Engagement Coordinator, as well as Eva who works as an Undergraduate Writing Consultant.
For more information about the Writing Center, visit their website at writing.msu.edu or follow them on Instagram @wcmsu.
On this week’s episode of the Spartan Orientation Station, we will be discussing intramural (or IM) sports on campus, your MSU gym membership, how to sign up for IM teams and fitness classes, and hearing from students who have been a part of an IM team! Joining us this week is Ross Winter, the Assistant Director of Recreational Sports and Fitness Services.
For more information about IM sports, gym memberships, and more, check out the Recreational Sports and Fitness Services website at recsports.msu.edu. To activate your fitness membership, use your Spartan ID card and sign in at recsports.msu.edu/fitness/memberships.
On this episode of the Spartan Orientation Station, our team talks about all things MSU Varsity Athletics. Featuring conversations about how students can buy athletic tickets and attend MSU athletic events, we’ll also share a little bit about our experiences as students attending these events.
For more information, visit the Official MSU Athletics Website at msuspartans.com. To learn more about student sections or student athletic tickets, including all of the information shared here, check out the Student Section page linked here.
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! Today we’ll be talking about the Center for Veterans and Military-Affiliated Students (CVMAS). The CVMAS is dedicated to promoting the educational, career, and personal advancement of service members, veterans, and their families at Michigan State University. Today we are joined by Patrick Forystek, the Director of the CVMAS.
For more information about the Center for Veterans and Military-Affiliated Students, check out their website at veterans.msu.edu. You can also find them on Instagram: @msu_cvmas or visit their office in Room 8 of the Student Services Building.
Please note, this podcast may refer to CVMAS as the Student Veteran Resource Center (SVRC). This episode was recorded before SVRC changed their name to CVMAS, effective March 2025.
Living off campus is a possibility for some incoming students, and many students will eventually choose to live in off campus housing. You may be wondering how to stay connected to on campus activities, when to sign a lease, or even how to start finding an apartment or house. These are all new responsibilities that we’ll be discussing in today’s episode. Joining us today is Suchitra Webster, who is the Director of the Office of Community and Student Relations.
For more information about living off-campus, please visit https://offcampushousing.msu.edu/. For more information about the Office of Community and Student Relations, view their website at collegelifeel.msu.edu, email them at scr@msu.edu, or follow them on Instagram @collegelifeeastlansing.
Welcome to NSO’s weekly Spartan Orientation Station! On today’s episode we will be exploring everything you will need to know regarding the Associated Students of Michigan State University, or ASMSU. ASMSU is the undergraduate student government at Michigan State University. Founded in 1965, ASMSU has been representing the collective student voice to the university and surrounding community while also providing services accessible to undergraduate students. Since then, ASMSU has grown to be an organization on campus that focuses on student-centered advocacy, DEI initiatives, student empowerment, and community building. Today, we are joined by Emily Hoyumpa, ASMSU and Student Body President, and Brandi Stovers, ASMSU Public Relations Director. Welcome Emily and Brandi!!
For more information about ASMSU, check out their website at asmsu.msu.edu. You can also follow them on Instagram and Twitter @theasmsu, as well as find them on Facebook.
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station. Today’s featured campus partner is MSU Vote, a non-partisan campus committee whose mission is to increase the number of registered student voters, to inform and educate students on candidates and issues, and to bolster student participation on Election Day. Through their education, participation, and voter registration initiatives, MSU Vote helps empower students to become democratically engaged in their hometowns or in East Lansing. MSU was recognized by ALL IN in 2022 for significant efforts to get students engaged with the voting process. Whether you’re in-state or out of state, MSUVote is there to help you navigate the ballot. Today we are joined by Erin Kramer, who is the Democratic Engagement Coordinator for MSUVote, Suchitra Website, Director of the Office of Student and Community Relations, and Renee Brown, Director of the Center for Community Engaged Learning.
For more information about MSUVote, you can visit their website msuvote.msu.edu. You can also contact the office via email at msuvote@msu.edu.
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! This episode we are discussing The Office of Student Support and Accountability also knows as OSSA. They support student success by ensuring a civil and inclusive learning environment based on academic and personal integrity. OSSA supports personal and community accountability and addresses conduct inconsistent with the Spartan Code of Honor with honesty, respect, and fairness. Today, we welcome Jake Kasper the Assistant Director of OSSA and Rick Shafer, the Associate Director for OSSA. Thank you for joining us!
For more information about OSSA, you can reach their website at ossa.msu.edu. You can also contact the office via email at ossa@msu.edu or phone, 517-884-0789.
Hello everybody and welcome back to another fun and exciting episode of Spartan Orientation Station! Today we will be featuring Eat at State. Eat at State handles all things dining on campus, including meal plans, dining halls, and combos on campus, which are all extremely important parts of the Spartan experience. Joining us today are Cheryl Berry, the Associate Director for Marketing and Communications, and Kelsey Patterson, Registered Dietician.
For more information about Eat at State, check out their website at eatatstate.msu.edu.
Welcome back future Spartans! For many new students, the idea of living in the residence halls can be overwhelming. From maintenance requests to roommate and suitemate agreements, dorm life can be just as challenging as it is enjoyable. To give students an idea of what to expect, today we are joined by a LiveOn representatives who will share some tips and tricks on how to make settling into your home away from home as easy as ever! Today, we are joined by Chloe Weigel, a former RA and assistant community director, and Allysa Johnson, the assistant director of Residence Education and Housing Services or REHS.
For more information about MSU’s Housing Department, please contact LiveOn via email liveon@msu.edu or visit their website at liveon.msu.edu.
Hello future Spartans and welcome to another episode of the Spartan Orientation Station! Today’s episode is featuring our amazing Career Services department. Career Services aims to help students create connections and develop career resources and skills. They offer a variety of services and resources to help students find their dream jobs. Joining us today is Karin Hansen, the Director of Employer Relations and Communications within the Career Services Network. Welcome Karin!
For further information about Career Services at MSU, check out their website at careernetwork.msu.edu. For information about scheduling an appointment with a Career Services advisor, please click here.
Welcome back to our podcast, the Spartan Orientation Station. As you start to arrive to MSU, you may be wondering, “how can I get involved on campus outside of my classes?” Today, we will answer that question and more as we discuss getting involved on campus through organizations, clubs, and more! The Office of Spartan Experiences, the campus department that works with Registered Student Organizations and student involvement on campus, is here to talk with us about how new students can get involved on campus.
Joining us today is Lance Sharp from The Office of Spartan Experiences, the Assistant Director for Registered Student Organizations and Late-Night Programming. Thank you for joining us, Lance!
For more information about getting involved on campus, check out the Office of Spartan Experiences website at spartanexperiences.msu.edu. Check out the Involve@State website.
Today’s exciting episode to talk about the Spartan Experience Record, or SER, where students can keep track of their campus experiences and involvements outside of the classroom. We have with us today, Sarah Schultz, the Director of the Spartan Experience Record. She is excited to provide us with valuable information regarding your Spartan Experience Record.
For further information about the SER, check out their website at ser.msu.edu or email mystory@msu.edu.
MSU is known for being one of the top schools in the United States for study abroad, and Education Abroad offers more than 300 programs to all 7 continents, even Antarctica! With more than 175+ majors represented there is definitely a program for you! We can’t wait to hear more from our guests, Ryan Cole, Digital Communications Manager, and Nolan Rachocki, Peer Advisor. They are here today with us from the MSU Education Abroad office where we’ll be discussing how to pack your bags and set sail for education overseas!
For further information about studying abroad, contact the Education Abroad office via email abroad@msu.edu, phone at 517-355-8920, or visit their website at educationabroad.isp.msu.edu.
Welcome back to Spartan Orientation Station. Today’s episode is Spartan Transfer Talks: Starting Fresh and Building Your New Community, where we will discuss your new MSU community and getting involved in extracurriculars and social scenes.
We are joined by the Transfer Student Success Center team, Dr. Charles Jackson and Ashley Hewlett-Lemke. For more information about the Transfer Student Success Center, reach out via email transfersuccess@msu.edu or visit their Instagram @msutransfersuccess.
Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station. This week, we will be featuring two episodes aimed toward transfer students, called Spartan Transfer Talks. In these episodes we will be featuring the Transfer Student Success Center (TSSC). The TSSC supports our transfer student population through extracurricular activities and events.
On today’s episode, Dr. Charles Jackson, the Director of the TSSC, and Ashley Hewlett-Lemke, Program Coordinator at the TSSC, will discuss how to succeed within the classroom at MSU. For more information about the Transfer Student Success Center, reach out via email transfersuccess@msu.edu or visit their Instagram @msutransfersuccess.
On this episode we are meeting with MSU’s Ombudsperson: Dr. Shannon Burton. You may or may not have heard of this position, but it is important to know that it is the most significant tool a student can use to voice their opinions and concerns. The Office of the University Ombudsperson helps students who are dealing with conflict or want to learn more about their student rights. The service operates independently of MSU and is completely confidential, so students can feel safe raising concerns. Listen in to learn more about the work they do and how they can help you.
For more information on the University Ombudsperson, students can visit their website at ombud.msu.edu or contact the office via email at ombud@msu.edu.
Welcome to NSO’s Spartan Orientation Station! On today’s episode we will be exploring everything you will need to know regarding Financial Aid. The Office of Financial Aid provides access, aid, and advisory services for the MSU Community. They hope to model campus-wide communication and collaboration while respecting the needs, values, and diversity of MSU students, parents, and colleagues.
Today, we are joined by David Norde, who is the Assistant Director of Student Services and Outreach at the Office of Financial Aid. Thank you for joining us, David!
For additional questions regarding financial aid, we encourage you to contact the Office of Financial Aid by phone at 517.353.5940, email at finaid@msu.edu, or walk-in appointment in Room 252 of the Student Services Building. Additionally, students can visit their website at finaid.msu.edu.
In this episode, we discuss the Student Parent Resource Center, or SPRC for short. The SPRC strives to support and uplift non-traditional students and their families. To do so, the SPRC provides vital services to parenting students, such as assistance with academics and finances, as well as on-campus space for them to connect with other families. Today, we’re joined by Laraine Walton, the administrative assistant for the SPRC to learn more about how they support Spartan parents.
For more information, contact the SPRC via email at sprc@msu.edu or visit their website. For the application for the Support Our Student (SOS) Fund visit this webpage.
Hey everyone! Welcome back to our podcast, the Spartan Orientation Station. Today, we will discuss religious and spiritual life here at MSU. Specifically, we will be talking about the Religious Advisors Association, also known as RAA. This group is made up of a variety of religious professionals from many different faith traditions.
Joining us today is Rev. Curt Dwyer, President of RAA and lead pastor at Martin Luther Chapel and Bridgette Sherwin, Jewish Student Life Coordinator at MSU Hillel and Liaison between RAA and the Campus Interfaith Council. They are here to help us dive deeper into this association and to answer any questions new incoming students may have about faith and religious life at MSU. Welcome to the Spartan Orientation Station!
For further questions, or to get involved, visit the Religious Life website at or connect via Facebook. Get connected by completing their involvement form.
Welcome back to our podcast, the Spartan Orientation Station. Today, we will discuss the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center, better known as the GSCC. Located in the Student Services Building, the GSCC acts as a resource for LGBTQIA2S+ students on campus. They offer educational resources, fun events, support for LGBTQIA2S+ students, and so much more! Joining us today to tell us more about the GSCC and its resources is Grace Wojcik, the Director of the GSCC. Welcome Grace!
For more information or further questions, please contact the GSCC team via phone 517-353-9520 or email gscc@msu.edu. You can also visit the center’s website at gssc.msu.edu.
Welcome to NSO’s Spartan Orientation Station! On today’s episode, we are discussing the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, also known as the RCPD. They provide resources and accommodations for students here at MSU. Their mission is to maximize the ability and opportunity for full participation by persons with disabilities.
Please welcome Hannah Huey-Jones from the RCPD office, who is here to answer all of our questions about RCPD. Hannah is an ability access specialist serving individuals with chronic health disabilities.
For further information or questions, please contact the RCPD team via phone at 517-884-7273 or via web contact form.
Update as of 2024: Please note that VISAs are now referred to as “Accommodation Letters” at MSU.
One of the things that characterizes MSU is its population of over 9,000 international students from more than 140 countries. Our community of international students have a long process of papers and legalities that they have to go through to be able to join us every fall. MSU has the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) here on campus that has the sole goal of helping those students come to Michigan State and achieve great levels of academic success.
Without further ado, we proudly present Bryce Carlton, the Assistant Director of Engagement from OISS, to talk us through that process and answer some frequently asked questions.
For further questions, contact MSU’s OISS team via email oiss@msu.edu or phone 517-353-1720.
On this week’s podcast, we will be discussing university health resources including MSU’s Olin Health Center and Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS). The Olin Health Center offers a wide variety of health care services to students year-round. Additionally, CAPS offers both virtual and in-person counseling options that allow students to connect with mental health professionals. However, health and wellbeing at MSU has much more to offer than CAPS and Olin. Tune in to hear more from Elizabeth Carr, the marketing and communications manager for MSU’s Student Health and Wellbeing.
Have more questions? For contact information for the various departments mentioned, view this webpage.
On this episode of the Spartan Orientation Station, we are welcoming Captain Dan Munford and Dana Whyte from MSU’s Police Department. MSU’s Police Department, also known as MSUPD, is responsible for emergency response on campus, parking, registering bicycles, and so much more! Their priority is ensuring that Spartans feel safe and secure at MSU, and they strive to be friendly faces on campus.
For further questions, contact MSU’s Police and Public Safety team via email info@police.msu.edu or phone 517-355-2221.
Walk around campus and you will hear students say they just finished their IM game, or they just took their CS exam; it’s more than just “common.” With countless departments, positions, and locations, Michigan State University is full of acronyms. From the well-known ones like MSU itself, to the more obscure ones that may leave you scratching your head, we’ll dig deep to uncover their origins, contexts, and roles within the MSU community. Today, we are hoping to get you ready by explaining major acronyms and giving us a common language for this podcast series and when you arrive on campus this fall!
Welcome to the first episode of the Spartan Orientation Station! On this episode, we will be featuring advising tips and tricks to prepare new students for their first advising appointment at MSU.
Whether you’re a first year just stepping onto campus, or a seasoned senior preparing for graduation, one thing remains constant: the importance of effective advising. Advisors take on the responsibility of helping students not only correctly plan their course of study but enjoy their experience at MSU. Together, we’ll uncover a treasure trove of tips, advice, and insider knowledge that will help you build relationships with your advisors and make the most of your advising appointments. Joining us today is Dr. Ebony Green, Assistant Dean for University Advising. With her nearly two decades of advising experience, Dr. Green brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the areas of student support and success. She joins us now to help answer your questions and give some advice.